Because most Christians do not understand "the economics of salvation," they do not understand that not only did Jesus not need baptizing, but also that it would have been a disaster for humanity if He had needed baptizing!
If Jesus had needed baptizing, then He would no longer have been the blemishless paschal lamb sacrificed to purchase grace from loving God's perfect brutal justice, which exacts eye-for-an-eye payment for sins. God would not have "seen" his sacrifice. They would have been "as filthy rags," as Isaiah puts it.
No grace would have issued from Jesus' sacrifice, and mankind, down here on Earth, would have been a faithless, self-aggrandizing monster, because that final ingredient of humanity -- grace -- would never have been added to the mix.
So, why was Jesus baptized?
Because He was "leading the way" through the sacramental procedure.
I also think that He was telling us something about Himself and salvation theology.
How was Jesus baptized -- by pouring or immersion?
Some art shows by pouring...http://www.davidmacd.com/images/jesus_baptism.jpg
Some art shows by immersion...http://www.davidmacd.com/images/jesus_baptism.jpg
Some art shows both, to avoid the issue...http://www.pitts.emory.edu/woodcuts/1670Font/00010532.jpg
In fact, in the Gospel narratives when Jesus is actually baptized it is clearly by immersion, but when He talks about it in John he refers to it as "bathing" -- a "washing away" of sins, the logic behind pouring.
I prefer the immersion procedure myself, because of the statement it makes about Baptism theology.
Calling it "Baptism by immersion" is a little bit of a misnomer. They should call it, "Baptism by coming out of the water."
Sea water is an expression of the Abyss Type, for the Sea of Damnable Souls -- sinners.
Potable -- non-salty -- river and stream water is the River Type, for Salvation.
Salty streams, however, are expressions of the Abyss Type.
The Jordan River is, and always has been, a salty stream.
Coming out of the Jordan River dramatized that one was no longer a part of the Sea of Damnable Souls.
By coming out of the Jordan, Jesus dramatized what happens to us when we are baptized.
In His case, though, Jesus is "He Who Was Made to Be Sin Who Did Not Know Sin," 2 Corinthians 5:21. In Jesus' case, He was simply the One Made to Be Sin, from the Sea of Damnable Souls.
I'll repeat the structure I devised, then post the Bible verses which I consider to be relevant to a consideration of the named Mystery.
ROSARY STRUCTURE:
The Sign of the Cross.
The Apostles Creed.
One Our Father.
One Hail Mary.
One Glory Be.
One Oh My Jesus ("Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins," etc.)
Then, the announcement, "First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation."
Then, one Our Father.
Then, I actually really do "contemplate the Mystery."
Then, after contemplating the Mystery, I say one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and one Oh My Jesus.
Then I repeat the cycle, beginning with the announcement of the next Mystery, and the Our Father, followed by contemplation of that Mystery, and so on.
BIBLE VERSES TO CONTEMPLATE:
Matthew 3:13-17, but in light of John 13:5-10, and also in light of 1 Kings 18:1-46, especially Verse 44 in light of Psalm 77:16 and Exodus 15:22-25.
Genesis 7:6-16, but in light of 1 Peter 3:20-21. How? By getting wet? No. By being "rised-out-of" the "Sea of Damnable Souls" by the ark -- the Church.
Showing posts with label Rosary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rosary. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
How I Say the Rosary...The Marriage Feast at Cana
I am glad that the Pope made the Marriage Feast at Cana a separate mystery of the Rosary, because the theology in that story is so important.
I'll repeat the structure I devised, then post the Bible verses which I consider to be relevant to a consideration of the named Mystery.
ROSARY STRUCTURE:
The Sign of the Cross.
The Apostles Creed.
One Our Father.
One Hail Mary.
One Glory Be.
One Oh My Jesus ("Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins," etc.)
Then, the announcement, "First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation."
Then, one Our Father.
Then, I actually really do "contemplate the Mystery."
Then, after contemplating the Mystery, I say one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and one Oh My Jesus.
Then I repeat the cycle, beginning with the announcement of the next Mystery, and the Our Father, followed by contemplation of that Mystery, and so on.
BIBLE VERSES TO CONTEMPLATE:
John 2:1-12.
In effect, the Marriage Feast at Cana story is the Catholic answer to the Protestant objection to the Catholic theology assigning to Mary a special role in the New Testament salvation process. It really is amazing how squarely this story answers objections.
To understand what I mean, you have to understand how Bible typology, built into the Bible's words by the Holy Spirit, works.
WINE = the saving blood of Christ. Matthew 26:27-28.
JARS, POTS = Mankind, us. Genesis 2:7; Jeremiah 19:10-12. The fact that the jars in this story are called "stone" means that they were "stoneware," a variety of turned clay pot heated to great hardness, not carved out of stone.
SIX (stone pots) = evil. Proverbs 6:16.
TWO (measures) = the Church. Genesis 7:9, where we see God's people entering the Church saving them.
THREE (measures) = the Will of God. The Wioll of Go0d, the Commnandments, were brought down by Moses from the mountain on the third day, Exodus 19:16, of the third month, Exodus 19:1.
WATER (potable) = salvation. Isaiah 12:3.
Now, look at the order of things in the story...
They come to need the saving blood of Christ.
Mary intercedes with her son, as Catholics say she does on behalf of mankind.
At first, Jesus gives the Protestant answer: Bug off! This is God's business! Not yours! And your timing is lousy!
But Mary is nonetheless confident that her cheap human intercession will be heeded.
As we Catholics maintain, Jesus heeds her intercession, anyway!
He takes six jars -- evil humanity -- and has water -- salvation -- put into them, and then he changes the water into wine -- he "activates" salvation with his saving blood.
All of this inhj response to Mary's intercession.
I'll repeat the structure I devised, then post the Bible verses which I consider to be relevant to a consideration of the named Mystery.
ROSARY STRUCTURE:
The Sign of the Cross.
The Apostles Creed.
One Our Father.
One Hail Mary.
One Glory Be.
One Oh My Jesus ("Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins," etc.)
Then, the announcement, "First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation."
Then, one Our Father.
Then, I actually really do "contemplate the Mystery."
Then, after contemplating the Mystery, I say one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and one Oh My Jesus.
Then I repeat the cycle, beginning with the announcement of the next Mystery, and the Our Father, followed by contemplation of that Mystery, and so on.
BIBLE VERSES TO CONTEMPLATE:
John 2:1-12.
In effect, the Marriage Feast at Cana story is the Catholic answer to the Protestant objection to the Catholic theology assigning to Mary a special role in the New Testament salvation process. It really is amazing how squarely this story answers objections.
To understand what I mean, you have to understand how Bible typology, built into the Bible's words by the Holy Spirit, works.
WINE = the saving blood of Christ. Matthew 26:27-28.
JARS, POTS = Mankind, us. Genesis 2:7; Jeremiah 19:10-12. The fact that the jars in this story are called "stone" means that they were "stoneware," a variety of turned clay pot heated to great hardness, not carved out of stone.
SIX (stone pots) = evil. Proverbs 6:16.
TWO (measures) = the Church. Genesis 7:9, where we see God's people entering the Church saving them.
THREE (measures) = the Will of God. The Wioll of Go0d, the Commnandments, were brought down by Moses from the mountain on the third day, Exodus 19:16, of the third month, Exodus 19:1.
WATER (potable) = salvation. Isaiah 12:3.
Now, look at the order of things in the story...
They come to need the saving blood of Christ.
Mary intercedes with her son, as Catholics say she does on behalf of mankind.
At first, Jesus gives the Protestant answer: Bug off! This is God's business! Not yours! And your timing is lousy!
But Mary is nonetheless confident that her cheap human intercession will be heeded.
As we Catholics maintain, Jesus heeds her intercession, anyway!
He takes six jars -- evil humanity -- and has water -- salvation -- put into them, and then he changes the water into wine -- he "activates" salvation with his saving blood.
All of this inhj response to Mary's intercession.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
How I Say the Rosary...The Baptism of the Lord
I'll repeat the structure I devised, then post the Bible verses which I consider to be relevant to a consideration of the named Mystery.
ROSARY STRUCTURE:
The Sign of the Cross.
The Apostles Creed.
One Our Father.
One Hail Mary.
One Glory Be.
One Oh My Jesus ("Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins," etc.)
Then, the announcement, "First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation."
Then, one Our Father.
Then, I actually really do "contemplate the Mystery."
Then, after contemplating the Mystery, I say one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and one Oh My Jesus.
Then I repeat the cycle, beginning with the announcement of the next Mystery, and the Our Father, followed by contemplation of that Mystery, and so on.
BIBLE VERSES TO CONTEMPLATE:
Jesus did not need baptizing. If He did, then He was not the "blemishless lamb" whose death purchased grace for mankind.
So, probably He did what He did to institute the sacrament.
He may also have been talking to us, with His actions. Compare Matthew 3:16 with the verses at 1 Kings 17:1, and 18:41-46.
Remember that the sea symboilizes the Sea of Damnable Souls in typology.
But, why would Christ come OUT OF the Sea of Damnable Souls, in His Baptism.
Paul figured it out, at 2 Corinthians 5:21. Though sinless, He ended up being treated as though He were sin, itself.
ROSARY STRUCTURE:
The Sign of the Cross.
The Apostles Creed.
One Our Father.
One Hail Mary.
One Glory Be.
One Oh My Jesus ("Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins," etc.)
Then, the announcement, "First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation."
Then, one Our Father.
Then, I actually really do "contemplate the Mystery."
Then, after contemplating the Mystery, I say one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and one Oh My Jesus.
Then I repeat the cycle, beginning with the announcement of the next Mystery, and the Our Father, followed by contemplation of that Mystery, and so on.
BIBLE VERSES TO CONTEMPLATE:
Jesus did not need baptizing. If He did, then He was not the "blemishless lamb" whose death purchased grace for mankind.
So, probably He did what He did to institute the sacrament.
He may also have been talking to us, with His actions. Compare Matthew 3:16 with the verses at 1 Kings 17:1, and 18:41-46.
Remember that the sea symboilizes the Sea of Damnable Souls in typology.
But, why would Christ come OUT OF the Sea of Damnable Souls, in His Baptism.
Paul figured it out, at 2 Corinthians 5:21. Though sinless, He ended up being treated as though He were sin, itself.
Monday, September 13, 2010
How I Say the Rosary...Finding Jesus in the Temple
I'll repeat the structure I devised, then post the Bible verses which I consider to be relevant to a consideration of the named Mystery.
ROSARY STRUCTURE:
The Sign of the Cross.
The Apostles Creed.
One Our Father.
One Hail Mary.
One Glory Be.
One Oh My Jesus ("Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins," etc.)
Then, the announcement, "First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation."
Then, one Our Father.
Then, I actually really do "contemplate the Mystery."
Then, after contemplating the Mystery, I say one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and one Oh My Jesus.
Then I repeat the cycle, beginning with the announcement of the next Mystery, and the Our Father, followed by contemplation of that Mystery, and so on.
BIBLE VERSES TO CONTEMPLATE:
Probably very little "contemplation" goes into the story of the finding of Jesus in the temple when the Rosary is said, because everyone knows the story, perceived by most to be an almost kid-level account of an incident in Jesus' life.
In fact, the story has a very special secret built into it.
It's not about Jesus' life.
It's about His death.
See if you can figure it out. From Luke 2...
41 Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
42 and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom.
Here contemplate Luke 19:28-40, and Luke 22:7-38.
43 After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.
Here contemplate Luke 22:39 to Luke 23:56.
44 Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
45 but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
Here contemplate Luke 24:1-3.
46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions,
47 and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.
48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety."
49 And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
Here contemplate Luke 24:4-53.
ROSARY STRUCTURE:
The Sign of the Cross.
The Apostles Creed.
One Our Father.
One Hail Mary.
One Glory Be.
One Oh My Jesus ("Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins," etc.)
Then, the announcement, "First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation."
Then, one Our Father.
Then, I actually really do "contemplate the Mystery."
Then, after contemplating the Mystery, I say one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and one Oh My Jesus.
Then I repeat the cycle, beginning with the announcement of the next Mystery, and the Our Father, followed by contemplation of that Mystery, and so on.
BIBLE VERSES TO CONTEMPLATE:
Probably very little "contemplation" goes into the story of the finding of Jesus in the temple when the Rosary is said, because everyone knows the story, perceived by most to be an almost kid-level account of an incident in Jesus' life.
In fact, the story has a very special secret built into it.
It's not about Jesus' life.
It's about His death.
See if you can figure it out. From Luke 2...
41 Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
42 and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom.
Here contemplate Luke 19:28-40, and Luke 22:7-38.
43 After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.
Here contemplate Luke 22:39 to Luke 23:56.
44 Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
45 but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
Here contemplate Luke 24:1-3.
46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions,
47 and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.
48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety."
49 And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
Here contemplate Luke 24:4-53.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
How I Say the Rosary...the Presentation
I'll repeat the structure I devised, then post the Bible verses which I consider to be relevant to a consideration of the named Mystery.
ROSARY STRUCTURE:
The Sign of the Cross.
The Apostles Creed.
One Our Father.
One Hail Mary.
One Glory Be.
One Oh My Jesus ("Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins," etc.)
Then, the announcement, "First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation."
Then, one Our Father.
Then, I actually really do "contemplate the Mystery."
Then, after contemplating the Mystery, I say one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and one Oh My Jesus.
Then I repeat the cycle, beginning with the announcement of the next Mystery, and the Our Father, followed by contemplation of that Mystery, and so on.
BIBLE VERSES TO CONTEMPLATE:
Almost nobody knows what the Presentation is, because almost nobody really ever "contemplates" it.
The Presentation is really about sacrificial death -- not a joyous moment about a newborn's new life.
To more fully understand this, we have to understand God's perfect Justice.
It is brutal.
For the sins of Peter J. Dawson, and the sins of Jane Roe the Reader and John Doe the Reader, God's perfect Justice exacts perfect payment.
This won't magically "turn off."
But because Gode is a perfectly Merciful perfect Lover, God addressed the "problem" of His perfect Justice (in fact, we are the problem) in another way...
I have found that the best way to understand how God handles the "problem" of His perfect Justice is through a homespun myth -- an imaginary conversation within the Trinity.
GOD THE FATHER: "As we knew would happen, these humans we created out of love are disgusting. All they worry about are themselves -- not others. Our justice is outraged. Our justice makes me want to smash them in their selfish, hate-filled faces.
"But, I love them. I want to have mercy on them.
"Someone has got to pay for their faithlessness and sins -- to the last penny."
GOD THE SON: "I will. I volunteer. I'll pay."
GOD THE FATHER: "Because the humans hate to death, the price exacted by our justice is horrible suffering and death by a perfect one."
GOD THE SON: "I will. I volunteer. I'll pay."
GOD THE FATHER: "My son, whom I love so much, this gift of love and mercy to satisfy our perfect, brutal justice is hard for me in a way the humans can not understand. But, I accept your loving offer, and so I offer you up to our own brutal justice to suffer and die on their behalf."
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT: "Your love is amazing. I will carry your loving gift to humanity, so that they, in their imperfect, hate-characterized way, will achieve the torture and murder necessary to bring about the suffering and death being wrought on their behalf.
"Before I do this, I will tell them stories, in their Scriptures, hinting at the suffering and death of God's beloved son to come, and the reason why. The curious will see it, with our help, through the Old Testament Church, Judaism. The rain of grace showering upon the faithless, sinful humans in both the Old Testament and New Testament Churches, as a result of the suffering and death of God's beloved son, I will tell them about with more clarity in the New Testament Church of the Popes, and also through their Protestant and Orthodox brothers and sisters, and also through the continuing Old Testament Church, Judaism. The grace will also be delivered, in a special way, through the New Testament Church.
"They will always have trouble understanding these things, in part, because the grace, itself, makes life bearable, making it unclear how horrible they really are and so how badly they need the grace; in part, because the extent to which they refuse the grace, and so make their own lives hellish for each other, obfuscates their own understanding."
For the reasons stated, how these things are so, and why they are so, is very, very hard for people in our modern society to comprehend and then accept. Hopefully my little myth, here, helped. Hopefully, contemplating the Presentation using the Bible verses wehich follow will also help.
Re the Presentation, contemplate...
Luke 2:22-39.
In a sense, Verse 22 is poorly translated. Purification of the blood of childbirth and official Presentation are two different things. A =/= B.
Verse 23 does not make clear WHY "...it is written in the law of the Lord, 'Every first-born male shall be consecrated to the Lord.'" The answer is in the chain reference notes of good Bibles. My Bible, the New American Bible for Catholics, refers me to...
Exodus 13, which says that (1) all first-born males must be consecrated to the Lord, and (2) these males MUST BE KILLED IF NOT REDEEMED. Exodus 13:13 gives, as an example, an unredeemed first-born of an ass. It says, "If you do not redeem it, you shall break its neck."
Note the redemption price for people: Numbers 18:16.
Does Luke mention such a payment?
What is the implication?
There is mention of a payment by sacrifice of two turtledoves or pigeons. What was that for?
Read Leviticus 12.
ROSARY STRUCTURE:
The Sign of the Cross.
The Apostles Creed.
One Our Father.
One Hail Mary.
One Glory Be.
One Oh My Jesus ("Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins," etc.)
Then, the announcement, "First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation."
Then, one Our Father.
Then, I actually really do "contemplate the Mystery."
Then, after contemplating the Mystery, I say one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and one Oh My Jesus.
Then I repeat the cycle, beginning with the announcement of the next Mystery, and the Our Father, followed by contemplation of that Mystery, and so on.
BIBLE VERSES TO CONTEMPLATE:
Almost nobody knows what the Presentation is, because almost nobody really ever "contemplates" it.
The Presentation is really about sacrificial death -- not a joyous moment about a newborn's new life.
To more fully understand this, we have to understand God's perfect Justice.
It is brutal.
For the sins of Peter J. Dawson, and the sins of Jane Roe the Reader and John Doe the Reader, God's perfect Justice exacts perfect payment.
This won't magically "turn off."
But because Gode is a perfectly Merciful perfect Lover, God addressed the "problem" of His perfect Justice (in fact, we are the problem) in another way...
I have found that the best way to understand how God handles the "problem" of His perfect Justice is through a homespun myth -- an imaginary conversation within the Trinity.
GOD THE FATHER: "As we knew would happen, these humans we created out of love are disgusting. All they worry about are themselves -- not others. Our justice is outraged. Our justice makes me want to smash them in their selfish, hate-filled faces.
"But, I love them. I want to have mercy on them.
"Someone has got to pay for their faithlessness and sins -- to the last penny."
GOD THE SON: "I will. I volunteer. I'll pay."
GOD THE FATHER: "Because the humans hate to death, the price exacted by our justice is horrible suffering and death by a perfect one."
GOD THE SON: "I will. I volunteer. I'll pay."
GOD THE FATHER: "My son, whom I love so much, this gift of love and mercy to satisfy our perfect, brutal justice is hard for me in a way the humans can not understand. But, I accept your loving offer, and so I offer you up to our own brutal justice to suffer and die on their behalf."
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT: "Your love is amazing. I will carry your loving gift to humanity, so that they, in their imperfect, hate-characterized way, will achieve the torture and murder necessary to bring about the suffering and death being wrought on their behalf.
"Before I do this, I will tell them stories, in their Scriptures, hinting at the suffering and death of God's beloved son to come, and the reason why. The curious will see it, with our help, through the Old Testament Church, Judaism. The rain of grace showering upon the faithless, sinful humans in both the Old Testament and New Testament Churches, as a result of the suffering and death of God's beloved son, I will tell them about with more clarity in the New Testament Church of the Popes, and also through their Protestant and Orthodox brothers and sisters, and also through the continuing Old Testament Church, Judaism. The grace will also be delivered, in a special way, through the New Testament Church.
"They will always have trouble understanding these things, in part, because the grace, itself, makes life bearable, making it unclear how horrible they really are and so how badly they need the grace; in part, because the extent to which they refuse the grace, and so make their own lives hellish for each other, obfuscates their own understanding."
For the reasons stated, how these things are so, and why they are so, is very, very hard for people in our modern society to comprehend and then accept. Hopefully my little myth, here, helped. Hopefully, contemplating the Presentation using the Bible verses wehich follow will also help.
Re the Presentation, contemplate...
Luke 2:22-39.
In a sense, Verse 22 is poorly translated. Purification of the blood of childbirth and official Presentation are two different things. A =/= B.
Verse 23 does not make clear WHY "...it is written in the law of the Lord, 'Every first-born male shall be consecrated to the Lord.'" The answer is in the chain reference notes of good Bibles. My Bible, the New American Bible for Catholics, refers me to...
Exodus 13, which says that (1) all first-born males must be consecrated to the Lord, and (2) these males MUST BE KILLED IF NOT REDEEMED. Exodus 13:13 gives, as an example, an unredeemed first-born of an ass. It says, "If you do not redeem it, you shall break its neck."
Note the redemption price for people: Numbers 18:16.
Does Luke mention such a payment?
What is the implication?
There is mention of a payment by sacrifice of two turtledoves or pigeons. What was that for?
Read Leviticus 12.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
How I Say the Rosary...the Nativity
I'll repeat the structure I devised, then post the Bible verses which I consider to be relevant to a consideration of the named Mystery.
ROSARY STRUCTURE:
The Sign of the Cross.
The Apostles Creed.
One Our Father.
One Hail Mary.
One Glory Be.
One Oh My Jesus ("Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins," etc.)
Then, the announcement, "First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation."
Then, one Our Father.
Then, I actually really do "contemplate the Mystery."
Then, after contemplating the Mystery, I say one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and one Oh My Jesus.
Then I repeat the cycle, beginning with the announcement of the next Mystery, and the Our Father, followed by contemplation of that Mystery, and so on.
BIBLE VERSES TO CONTEMPLATE:
Re the Nativity, contemplate...
Of course, Matthew 1:1-23, and Luke 21-21. But the key verse is Luke 2:7, because the Nativity is really about the Eucharist.
What do I mean by that?
Contemplate Exodus 12:1-28, especially Verses 3 through 10, inclusive. Also contemplate Genesis 27:1-29.
ROSARY STRUCTURE:
The Sign of the Cross.
The Apostles Creed.
One Our Father.
One Hail Mary.
One Glory Be.
One Oh My Jesus ("Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins," etc.)
Then, the announcement, "First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation."
Then, one Our Father.
Then, I actually really do "contemplate the Mystery."
Then, after contemplating the Mystery, I say one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and one Oh My Jesus.
Then I repeat the cycle, beginning with the announcement of the next Mystery, and the Our Father, followed by contemplation of that Mystery, and so on.
BIBLE VERSES TO CONTEMPLATE:
Re the Nativity, contemplate...
Of course, Matthew 1:1-23, and Luke 21-21. But the key verse is Luke 2:7, because the Nativity is really about the Eucharist.
What do I mean by that?
Contemplate Exodus 12:1-28, especially Verses 3 through 10, inclusive. Also contemplate Genesis 27:1-29.
Friday, September 3, 2010
How I Say the Rosary...the Visitation
I'll repeat the structure I devised, then post the Bible verses which I consider to be relevant to a consideration of the named Mystery.
ROSARY STRUCTURE:
The Sign of the Cross.
The Apostles Creed.
One Our Father.
One Hail Mary.
One Glory Be.
One Oh My Jesus ("Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins," etc.)
Then, the announcement, "First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation."
Then, one Our Father.
Then, I actually really do "contemplate the Mystery."
Then, after contemplating the Mystery, I say one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and one Oh My Jesus.
Then I repeat the cycle, beginning with the announcement of the next Mystery, and the Our Father, followed by contemplation of that Mystery, and so on.
BIBLE VERSES TO CONTEMPLATE:
Re the Visitation, contemplate...
Of course, Luke 1:39-45, but also
Genesis 3:7, 21
Matthew 21:18-22
Mark 11:12-23
Try to discern how the Genesis, Matthew and Mark verses are related to the Visitation. The answers are fascinating.
ROSARY STRUCTURE:
The Sign of the Cross.
The Apostles Creed.
One Our Father.
One Hail Mary.
One Glory Be.
One Oh My Jesus ("Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins," etc.)
Then, the announcement, "First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation."
Then, one Our Father.
Then, I actually really do "contemplate the Mystery."
Then, after contemplating the Mystery, I say one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and one Oh My Jesus.
Then I repeat the cycle, beginning with the announcement of the next Mystery, and the Our Father, followed by contemplation of that Mystery, and so on.
BIBLE VERSES TO CONTEMPLATE:
Re the Visitation, contemplate...
Of course, Luke 1:39-45, but also
Genesis 3:7, 21
Matthew 21:18-22
Mark 11:12-23
Try to discern how the Genesis, Matthew and Mark verses are related to the Visitation. The answers are fascinating.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
How I Say the Rosary...the Annunciation
I'll repeat the structure I devised, then post the Bible verses which I consider to be relevant to a consideration of the named Mystery.
ROSARY STRUCTURE:
The Sign of the Cross.
The Apostles Creed.
One Our Father.
One Hail Mary.
One Glory Be.
One Oh My Jesus ("Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins," etc.)
Then, the announcement, "First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation."
Then, one Our Father.
Then, I actually really do "contemplate the Mystery."
Then, after contemplating the Mystery, I say one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and one Oh My Jesus.
Then I repeat the cycle, beginning with the announcement of the next Mystery, and the Our Father, followed by contemplation of that Mystery, and so on.
BIBLE VERSES TO CONTEMPLATE:
Re the Annunciation, contemplate
Genesis 8:8-9
Ezekiel 17:1-6
Matthew 1:18-25
Luke 1:26-38
ROSARY STRUCTURE:
The Sign of the Cross.
The Apostles Creed.
One Our Father.
One Hail Mary.
One Glory Be.
One Oh My Jesus ("Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins," etc.)
Then, the announcement, "First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation."
Then, one Our Father.
Then, I actually really do "contemplate the Mystery."
Then, after contemplating the Mystery, I say one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and one Oh My Jesus.
Then I repeat the cycle, beginning with the announcement of the next Mystery, and the Our Father, followed by contemplation of that Mystery, and so on.
BIBLE VERSES TO CONTEMPLATE:
Re the Annunciation, contemplate
Genesis 8:8-9
Ezekiel 17:1-6
Matthew 1:18-25
Luke 1:26-38
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
How I Say the Rosary
When I was young, I quickly came to realize that the Rosary, as we Catholics say it, is "the world's most boring prayer."
Many of our Protestant brothers condemn the Rosary as Bible-damned "vain repetitions" (Matthew 6:7), verifying our damned state.
But this judgment by our brothers-in-Christ is based on a misinterpretation. What Christ was condemning in Matthew 6:7 is thinking that one can make headway with God through repeated prayer -- in other words, He was condemning prayer uttered without trust in God.
If repetitious prayer, as repetitious prayer, were being condemned, then the divinely inspired Psalms, themselves, are dens of iniquity: Compare Psalm 136:1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 and 10 and 11 and 12 and 13 and 14 and 15 and 16 and 17 and 18 and 19 and 20 and 21 and 22 and 23 and 24 and 25 and 26.
A prayer which requires repetition is not, per se, prayer uttered without trust.
So, go ahead and say your Rosary. It's not proof that you are damned. But, I, personally, still find doing so to be extremely tedious, and I think that the Rosary ought to be substantially restructured.
This is how I have restructured it, for myself...
The Sign of the Cross.
The Apostles Creed.
One Our Father.
One Hail Mary.
One Glory Be.
One Oh My Jesus ("Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins," etc.)
Then, the announcement, "First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation."
Then, one Our Father.
Then, I actually really do "contemplate the Mystery."
The secret is how.
There are structures in Scripture, called "types" and "word pictures" by Bible commentators.
"Hand" or "arm" in the Bible, for example, are expressions of the "Hand/Arm Type" symbolizing "Christ," even in the Old Testament, not just the New Testament.
"Boat" and "ark" are expressions of the "Boat Type" symbolizing "the Church," wherever you see boats in the Old and New Testaments.
Now, go to Genesis 8:8-9...
8 Then he sent out a dove, to see if the waters had lessened on the earth.
9 But the dove could find no place to alight and perch, and it returned to him in the ark, for there was water all over the earth. Putting out his hand, he caught the dove and drew it back to him inside the ark.
Do you see how the inspired Bible text dwells "in nauseating detail" on how Noah returned the dove to the ark?
That's actually a God-inspired word-picture of the key moment in the Annunciation -- the Incarnation.
The dove "carrying" the hand into the boat is a word-picture of the Holy Spirit carrying Christ to the Church.
By realizing this and studying this, I am actually "comtemplating" the Mystery of the Annunciation, aren't I?
After my "contemplation," I return to the structure of the Rosary, saying a Hail Mary, then a Glory Be, then an Oh My Jesus.
And so on.
In the coming days, I will outline all of the verses in the Bible comprising "word-pictures" of the Mysteries to contemplate.
In effect, you will be saying the Rosary after the fashion it was originally conceived, centuries ago: Narrators would divide the basic gospel story into 150 portions, and then have listeners say one of each of the 150 Psalms during a pause in the narration.
That gradually deteriorated into 3 sets of Mysteries x 5 Mysteries per set x 10 Hail Mary's per Mystery, recited with almost no contemplation of the original core consideration of the Rosary, the basic Gospel story.
By doing what I describe, here, we return the Rosary to its original noble purpose -- careful consideration of the Gospel story!
Many of our Protestant brothers condemn the Rosary as Bible-damned "vain repetitions" (Matthew 6:7), verifying our damned state.
But this judgment by our brothers-in-Christ is based on a misinterpretation. What Christ was condemning in Matthew 6:7 is thinking that one can make headway with God through repeated prayer -- in other words, He was condemning prayer uttered without trust in God.
If repetitious prayer, as repetitious prayer, were being condemned, then the divinely inspired Psalms, themselves, are dens of iniquity: Compare Psalm 136:1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 and 10 and 11 and 12 and 13 and 14 and 15 and 16 and 17 and 18 and 19 and 20 and 21 and 22 and 23 and 24 and 25 and 26.
A prayer which requires repetition is not, per se, prayer uttered without trust.
So, go ahead and say your Rosary. It's not proof that you are damned. But, I, personally, still find doing so to be extremely tedious, and I think that the Rosary ought to be substantially restructured.
This is how I have restructured it, for myself...
The Sign of the Cross.
The Apostles Creed.
One Our Father.
One Hail Mary.
One Glory Be.
One Oh My Jesus ("Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins," etc.)
Then, the announcement, "First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation."
Then, one Our Father.
Then, I actually really do "contemplate the Mystery."
The secret is how.
There are structures in Scripture, called "types" and "word pictures" by Bible commentators.
"Hand" or "arm" in the Bible, for example, are expressions of the "Hand/Arm Type" symbolizing "Christ," even in the Old Testament, not just the New Testament.
"Boat" and "ark" are expressions of the "Boat Type" symbolizing "the Church," wherever you see boats in the Old and New Testaments.
Now, go to Genesis 8:8-9...
8 Then he sent out a dove, to see if the waters had lessened on the earth.
9 But the dove could find no place to alight and perch, and it returned to him in the ark, for there was water all over the earth. Putting out his hand, he caught the dove and drew it back to him inside the ark.
Do you see how the inspired Bible text dwells "in nauseating detail" on how Noah returned the dove to the ark?
That's actually a God-inspired word-picture of the key moment in the Annunciation -- the Incarnation.
The dove "carrying" the hand into the boat is a word-picture of the Holy Spirit carrying Christ to the Church.
By realizing this and studying this, I am actually "comtemplating" the Mystery of the Annunciation, aren't I?
After my "contemplation," I return to the structure of the Rosary, saying a Hail Mary, then a Glory Be, then an Oh My Jesus.
And so on.
In the coming days, I will outline all of the verses in the Bible comprising "word-pictures" of the Mysteries to contemplate.
In effect, you will be saying the Rosary after the fashion it was originally conceived, centuries ago: Narrators would divide the basic gospel story into 150 portions, and then have listeners say one of each of the 150 Psalms during a pause in the narration.
That gradually deteriorated into 3 sets of Mysteries x 5 Mysteries per set x 10 Hail Mary's per Mystery, recited with almost no contemplation of the original core consideration of the Rosary, the basic Gospel story.
By doing what I describe, here, we return the Rosary to its original noble purpose -- careful consideration of the Gospel story!
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